VINTAGE IS NOT THRIFT

And this is why:

So here’s the scoop - back in the day, the word “Vintage” was interchanged with the word “Antique” just as nowadays the word “Vintage” is interchanged with “Thrift.” And these three words are completely unique from one another…sort of.

Let’s start with definitions:
Antique Shop = curated items that are 100 years and older
Vintage Shop = curated items 20 years and older
Thrift Shop = donated items from all eras at a discounted price

Right off the bat, you can spot the difference. The first two are defined entirely by the year the pieces were made that the store carries, whereas a Thrift shop is not. 

And how is this done? Curating! The biggest and most overlooked aspect of an Antique or Vintage shop is their unique process of curating each and every item presented to their customer (ie hand selecting a collection with a specific artistic focus in mind for the store’s brand and clientele) Simply put, on the contrary - a Thrift shop resells just about any and everything.

The next biggest overlooked and under-explained difference is the pricing. Gasp! I know, I know talking money on a small business’ social isn’t exactly applauded but I’m takin one for the team over here (and believe me, all of us Vintage shop owners cringe when we hear this)…”Why is this Thrift store SO expensive?!”  *long moment of silence*… It’s because we aren’t a Thrift store. Sure, we may have some great pieces that are a total score for $10 but that’s a one-of-a-kind maxi dress that you’re holding from the 1960s that’s in pristine condition because we laundered, sewed, patched and saved it from getting tossed out in the moldy bin in West Virginia that we found it in. Curating takes time and knowledge, all of which are services that cost money.

Now here’s where the grey area comes in - Antique and Vintage pieces can absolutely be found in a Thrift shop, *if* you have the time and knowledge to find it! And if you do, GIRL GET IT! We love how widespread the love of Vintage has become over the last decade and we all dress so much better for it 

And sometimes we dig there too, and markets and estate sales and hell, even the side of the road…for *Vintage, not Thrift